US6226920B1 - Plant watering device - Google Patents
Plant watering device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US6226920B1 US6226920B1 US09/522,948 US52294800A US6226920B1 US 6226920 B1 US6226920 B1 US 6226920B1 US 52294800 A US52294800 A US 52294800A US 6226920 B1 US6226920 B1 US 6226920B1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- receptacle
- watering device
- character
- opening
- water
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
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Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
- A01G27/00—Self-acting watering devices, e.g. for flower-pots
- A01G27/006—Reservoirs, separate from plant-pots, dispensing directly into rooting medium
Definitions
- This invention relates to a plant watering device, and in particular to a plant watering device which supplies water at a predetermined rate to plants so that the plants may be left unattended when the owner is away.
- the plant watering device of the invention requires no brackets or mounting hardware, but rather may simply be positioned directly on the soil adjacent the plant to be watered.
- the watering device has an ornamental appearance.
- the first category of watering device is represented by the devices described in the above-mentioned U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,060,934, 4,825,591, and 5,848,494, which valves or other mechanisms designed to vary the flow of water to the plant based on the amount of moisture in the soil. While devices with variable flow are useful in environments where water consumption varies significantly due to environmental conditions, houseplants are typically kept in a controlled or constant environment, and therefore such variable flow control is not necessary.
- the present invention belongs to the second category of watering devices, represented by the plant watering devices described in the above-mentioned U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,063,401, 1,231,975, and 1,453,401, all of which supply water to the plant at a preset rate rather than with variable flow or moisture feedback.
- each of the devices disclosed in these patents requires a relatively complex structure for positioning the devices above the soil to be watered, for example by mounting the devices on the rim of a flower pot.
- a third category of self-watering devices which seeks to provide a more attractive appearance is represented by the Christmas tree watering devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,311,270 (“Automatic Water Dispenser For Christmas Tree Stands”), 4,993,176 (Christmas Tree Stand Watering System”), and U.S. Pat. No. 5,867,929 (“E-Z Christmas Tree Waterer”).
- the designs of these devices is fundamentally different than those of the plant watering devices described above because Christmas trees are typically placed in a container of water rather than planted in soil, and thus the watering devices must be designed to dispense directly into the pool of water. Placement of a tube into the pool provides an inherent means of flow control, but on the other hand necessitates suspension of the watering device above the pool.
- the present invention seeks to dispense water to the soil surrounding a living plant upon simply being placed beside the plant, without the need for attachment of mounting hardware, insertion of tubes, or the like.
- the invention provides a watering device that is especially simple in construction and attractive, and yet that is easier to use than any of the prior designs.
- a plant watering device in the form of an enclosed receptacle designed to hold water, and further designed to be placed directly on the soil surrounding the plant to be watered, eliminating the need for mounting hardware.
- the walls of the receptacle are arranged to permit passage of water from the interior to the exterior of the receptacle so that the water drips onto the soil at a predetermined rate.
- the receptacle is in the shape of a character.
- the character may be a life-like animal, a cartoon character, or any other representation of an animate object, whether real or imaginary.
- the legs or other supporting appendages of the animate object may then be used to elevate the receptacle above the surface on which it is placed, while a protruding body part may form a removable cap through which water may be introduced to the interior of the receptacle.
- the receptacle is in the shape of toad, and the protruding body part is the eye of a toad, which includes a threaded extension arranged to be screwed into a corresponding opening in the main body of the receptacle.
- the watering device of the preferred embodiment may simply be filled with water through the opening in the main body of the receptacle, followed by threading of a filler cap into the opening to close the opening, and placement of the watering device on the soil surrounding the plant to be watered.
- the watering device may be used not only to ensure a supply of water to the plant when the owner is away, to save the trouble of daily watering even when the owner is present, or to ensure a more even supply of water to the plant in order to prevent the over-watering that might occur if an amount of water corresponding to the capacity of the watering device were poured on the plant all at once.
- the attractive shape of the watering device will encourage its use even when manual watering would not otherwise be inconvenient.
- an optional flow adjustment device may be included in the watering device, enabling the predetermined drip rate to be varied to meet the requirements of particular plants, environments, or other circumstances.
- FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a watering device constructed in accordance with the principles of a preferred embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 2 is a front elevation showing a variation of the watering device of FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a flow control device that could be included in the watering device of FIG. 2 .
- FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the plant watering device of the invention.
- the preferred plant watering device is made up of a main body 1 having the shape of a character, and in particular a toad, supporting elements 2 in the form of legs, and at least one removable filler cap 3 in the form of an eye and having an externally threaded portion 4 arranged to be threaded into an opening (not shown) in the “head” portion of the main body 1 .
- Main body 1 forms a hollow receptacle arranged to permit passage of water at a predetermined rate.
- the illustrated watering device includes a plurality of slits or openings 12 of sufficient size to permit water to pass through the slits and form droplets on the exterior of the receptacle, the droplets then running down the sides of the exterior and onto the soil 5 on which the main body is placed.
- the material of the receptacle may include any substance capable of being formed in a desired shape, and having sufficient rigidity to hold that shape. Suitable materials include PVC foam materials, which have the advantage of an attractive appearance, as well as other similar plastics. A less porous material with appropriately sized openings is preferred because if the material of the receptacle is too porous, water will simply evaporate from its surface and will fail to form droplets on the exterior of the receptacle. Nevertheless, it is also within the scope of the invention to make the receptacle of a more porous sponge-like material which, when saturated, will allow sufficient water flow to cause droplet formation before the water evaporates.
- the receptacle of multiple layers including, by way of example, a rigid metal or plastic inner layer with openings, a porous middle layer, and/or a cloth, rubber, or plastic foam outer layer having appropriate slits or openings 12 .
- the openings may be added during manufacture, or may be an inherent feature of the material, as is the case with some foam materials.
- the invention not be limited to a particular material or arrangement of materials, but rather that the invention encompass all material arrangements that permit passage of water at a rate sufficient to cause the water to drip down onto the soil on which the receptacle is situated.
- the watering device of the invention is designed to be used without any sort of mounting hardware, brackets, tubes, or the like. Instead, the watering device is simply placed on the soil 6 surrounding the plants 7 to be watered.
- the soil may be included in a flower pot, window box, or any other planter, and the watering device of the invention may also be placed directly on the ground.
- the main body 1 of the watering device may be slightly elevated or suspended above the ground by legs 2 or by any other suitable supporting structures, preferably having the shape of appendages of a character so as not to detract from the appearance of the character.
- the eye 3 of the illustrated character forms a handle which can easily be grasped by a user to permit the user to secure the externally threaded portion 4 in an corresponding internally threaded opening at the top of the main body 1 in order to form a filler cap and prevent loss of water through the internally threaded opening after the interior has been filled, and to enable the externally threaded portion to be removed from the corresponding internally threaded opening.
- the eye of the illustrated toad may of course be replaced by other protruding body parts, appendages, articles of clothing, or the like depending on the nature of the character represented by the shape of the main body, although it is preferred that the shape of the cap be consistent with the nature of the character, so as to contribute rather than detract from the appearance of the character.
- a flow control or adjustment device 7 is included to permit the drip rate to be adjusted for different types of house plants or different ambient environmental conditions.
- the adjustment device is not intended to provide dynamic feedback of the environmental conditions, or of such factors as soil moisture, but rather permits adjustment of the predetermined flow rate, for example by varying the size of the openings through which water passes from the interior to the exterior of the watering device.
- the adjustment device includes a handle 8 extending through a slot 9 in the main body 1 , and optional scale or calibration markings 10 situated above the slot 9 .
- Any suitable flow control device be utilized, including the apertured plate arrangement 11 for adjusting the sizes of openings 12 as schematically illustrated in FIG. 3, as well as valves or other flow control devices (not shown), or even a zipper or other closure device (not shown) for opening or closing the slot in the main body of the receptacle.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Environmental Sciences (AREA)
- Nozzles (AREA)
- Cultivation Receptacles Or Flower-Pots, Or Pots For Seedlings (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims (10)
Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US09/522,948 US6226920B1 (en) | 2000-03-10 | 2000-03-10 | Plant watering device |
PCT/US2001/004953 WO2001067846A1 (en) | 2000-03-10 | 2001-03-09 | Plant watering device |
AU2001243165A AU2001243165A1 (en) | 2000-03-10 | 2001-03-09 | Plant watering device |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US09/522,948 US6226920B1 (en) | 2000-03-10 | 2000-03-10 | Plant watering device |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US6226920B1 true US6226920B1 (en) | 2001-05-08 |
Family
ID=24083033
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US09/522,948 Expired - Fee Related US6226920B1 (en) | 2000-03-10 | 2000-03-10 | Plant watering device |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US6226920B1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU2001243165A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2001067846A1 (en) |
Cited By (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6769213B1 (en) | 2003-06-18 | 2004-08-03 | Venanzio Cardarelli | Monument irrigation apparatus |
US7198431B2 (en) | 2004-05-10 | 2007-04-03 | Gesser Hyman D | Irrigation system and associated methods |
US20070130827A1 (en) * | 2004-05-10 | 2007-06-14 | Easy Life Solutions, Inc. | Fluid and Nutrient Delivery System and Associated Methods |
US20080101863A1 (en) * | 2004-05-10 | 2008-05-01 | Easy Life Solutions, Inc. | Fluid and Nutrient Delivery System and Associated Methods |
US20080110089A1 (en) * | 2006-11-09 | 2008-05-15 | David Allen Spray | Plant container with watering system |
US20100329786A1 (en) * | 2007-10-31 | 2010-12-30 | Developmental Technologies, Llc | Fluid and Nutrient Delivery Irrigation System and Associated Methods |
IT201600113504A1 (en) * | 2016-11-10 | 2018-05-10 | Augusto Trinci | A gradual liquid release irrigation system that blends into the surrounding environment |
US9968038B2 (en) | 2015-09-27 | 2018-05-15 | Faris Alassadi | Plant irrigation system and method of use |
US10617073B2 (en) | 2015-01-14 | 2020-04-14 | The Ames Companies, Inc. | Self-watering planter |
CN111919735A (en) * | 2020-08-17 | 2020-11-13 | 许昌职业技术学院 | Secondary watering device for transplanter |
CN114631476A (en) * | 2022-04-15 | 2022-06-17 | 贵州大学 | A liquid manure regulation and control device for masson pine |
Citations (18)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1063395A (en) | 1912-11-25 | 1913-06-03 | William A Scribner | Self-watering flower-pot. |
US1231975A (en) | 1915-02-15 | 1917-07-03 | R Weitzel D Paul | Watering attachment for flower-pots. |
US1453401A (en) | 1920-11-20 | 1923-05-01 | Mary W Mattson | Plant waterer |
FR1104205A (en) * | 1954-05-04 | 1955-11-17 | Humidifier for cultivated plants | |
US3311270A (en) | 1965-06-07 | 1967-03-28 | Gerald E Juergens | Automatic water dispenser for christmas tree stands |
US4060934A (en) | 1976-09-27 | 1977-12-06 | Skaggs Leonard L | Water tender |
US4115951A (en) * | 1976-11-01 | 1978-09-26 | Becker Joseph T | Apparatus for supplying fluids to potted plants |
US4235561A (en) * | 1979-02-12 | 1980-11-25 | Glen Peterson | Subterranean irrigation means and system |
USD278075S (en) * | 1982-04-05 | 1985-03-19 | Dryden Darwin E | Plant irrigator |
US4745706A (en) | 1986-10-14 | 1988-05-24 | Robert Muza | Plant watering and feeding stake |
US4825591A (en) | 1988-06-23 | 1989-05-02 | Han Joon H | Automatic watering device for plants |
US4961285A (en) * | 1986-06-05 | 1990-10-09 | Wayne Jenkins | Plant irrigation system |
US4993176A (en) | 1989-10-27 | 1991-02-19 | Spinosa Vincent D | Christmas tree stand watering system |
US5117582A (en) * | 1989-03-28 | 1992-06-02 | W. Lambert Cissel, Jr. | Tree irrigator |
US5806240A (en) * | 1997-07-23 | 1998-09-15 | Racine; Pierre | System for supplying dripping water to plant growing media |
US5848494A (en) | 1996-01-31 | 1998-12-15 | Spelt; Jacob | Self-watering apparatus for plant |
US5867929A (en) | 1996-12-30 | 1999-02-09 | Jung; Yeoun Soo | E-Z christmas tree waterer |
US6023883A (en) * | 1997-07-22 | 2000-02-15 | Bacon, Jr.; Benjamin E. | Drip irrigator |
-
2000
- 2000-03-10 US US09/522,948 patent/US6226920B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2001
- 2001-03-09 WO PCT/US2001/004953 patent/WO2001067846A1/en active Application Filing
- 2001-03-09 AU AU2001243165A patent/AU2001243165A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (18)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1063395A (en) | 1912-11-25 | 1913-06-03 | William A Scribner | Self-watering flower-pot. |
US1231975A (en) | 1915-02-15 | 1917-07-03 | R Weitzel D Paul | Watering attachment for flower-pots. |
US1453401A (en) | 1920-11-20 | 1923-05-01 | Mary W Mattson | Plant waterer |
FR1104205A (en) * | 1954-05-04 | 1955-11-17 | Humidifier for cultivated plants | |
US3311270A (en) | 1965-06-07 | 1967-03-28 | Gerald E Juergens | Automatic water dispenser for christmas tree stands |
US4060934A (en) | 1976-09-27 | 1977-12-06 | Skaggs Leonard L | Water tender |
US4115951A (en) * | 1976-11-01 | 1978-09-26 | Becker Joseph T | Apparatus for supplying fluids to potted plants |
US4235561A (en) * | 1979-02-12 | 1980-11-25 | Glen Peterson | Subterranean irrigation means and system |
USD278075S (en) * | 1982-04-05 | 1985-03-19 | Dryden Darwin E | Plant irrigator |
US4961285A (en) * | 1986-06-05 | 1990-10-09 | Wayne Jenkins | Plant irrigation system |
US4745706A (en) | 1986-10-14 | 1988-05-24 | Robert Muza | Plant watering and feeding stake |
US4825591A (en) | 1988-06-23 | 1989-05-02 | Han Joon H | Automatic watering device for plants |
US5117582A (en) * | 1989-03-28 | 1992-06-02 | W. Lambert Cissel, Jr. | Tree irrigator |
US4993176A (en) | 1989-10-27 | 1991-02-19 | Spinosa Vincent D | Christmas tree stand watering system |
US5848494A (en) | 1996-01-31 | 1998-12-15 | Spelt; Jacob | Self-watering apparatus for plant |
US5867929A (en) | 1996-12-30 | 1999-02-09 | Jung; Yeoun Soo | E-Z christmas tree waterer |
US6023883A (en) * | 1997-07-22 | 2000-02-15 | Bacon, Jr.; Benjamin E. | Drip irrigator |
US5806240A (en) * | 1997-07-23 | 1998-09-15 | Racine; Pierre | System for supplying dripping water to plant growing media |
Cited By (21)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6769213B1 (en) | 2003-06-18 | 2004-08-03 | Venanzio Cardarelli | Monument irrigation apparatus |
US8011852B2 (en) | 2004-05-10 | 2011-09-06 | Developmental Technologies, Llc | Fluid and nutrient delivery system and associated methods |
US7198431B2 (en) | 2004-05-10 | 2007-04-03 | Gesser Hyman D | Irrigation system and associated methods |
US20070130827A1 (en) * | 2004-05-10 | 2007-06-14 | Easy Life Solutions, Inc. | Fluid and Nutrient Delivery System and Associated Methods |
US20080101863A1 (en) * | 2004-05-10 | 2008-05-01 | Easy Life Solutions, Inc. | Fluid and Nutrient Delivery System and Associated Methods |
US7712253B2 (en) | 2004-05-10 | 2010-05-11 | Developmental Technologies, Llc | Fluid and nutrient delivery system and associated methods |
US7748930B2 (en) | 2004-05-10 | 2010-07-06 | Developmental Technologies, Llc | Fluid and nutrient delivery system and associated methods |
US20100180497A1 (en) * | 2004-05-10 | 2010-07-22 | Developmental Technologies, Llc | Fluid Nutrient Delivery System and Associated Methods |
US20100251612A1 (en) * | 2004-05-10 | 2010-10-07 | Developmental Technologies, Llc | Fluid And Nutrient Delivery System And Associated Methods |
US8091276B2 (en) | 2004-05-10 | 2012-01-10 | Developmental Technologies, Llc | Fluid nutrient delivery system and associated methods |
US20080110089A1 (en) * | 2006-11-09 | 2008-05-15 | David Allen Spray | Plant container with watering system |
US7730666B2 (en) | 2006-11-09 | 2010-06-08 | David Allen Spray | Plant container with watering system |
US20100329786A1 (en) * | 2007-10-31 | 2010-12-30 | Developmental Technologies, Llc | Fluid and Nutrient Delivery Irrigation System and Associated Methods |
US8011853B2 (en) | 2007-10-31 | 2011-09-06 | Developmental Technologies, Llc | Fluid and nutrient delivery irrigation system and associated methods |
US10617073B2 (en) | 2015-01-14 | 2020-04-14 | The Ames Companies, Inc. | Self-watering planter |
US9968038B2 (en) | 2015-09-27 | 2018-05-15 | Faris Alassadi | Plant irrigation system and method of use |
IT201600113504A1 (en) * | 2016-11-10 | 2018-05-10 | Augusto Trinci | A gradual liquid release irrigation system that blends into the surrounding environment |
CN111919735A (en) * | 2020-08-17 | 2020-11-13 | 许昌职业技术学院 | Secondary watering device for transplanter |
CN111919735B (en) * | 2020-08-17 | 2024-05-07 | 许昌职业技术学院 | Secondary watering device for transplanting machine |
CN114631476A (en) * | 2022-04-15 | 2022-06-17 | 贵州大学 | A liquid manure regulation and control device for masson pine |
CN114631476B (en) * | 2022-04-15 | 2022-12-13 | 贵州大学 | A liquid manure regulation and control device for masson pine |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2001067846A1 (en) | 2001-09-20 |
AU2001243165A1 (en) | 2001-09-24 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: MYERS, KENNETH J., NEW YORK Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:MYERS, KENNETH J.;REEL/FRAME:010916/0569 Effective date: 20000627 Owner name: GREENBERG, EDWARD, NEW YORK Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:MYERS, KENNETH J.;REEL/FRAME:010916/0569 Effective date: 20000627 |
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: GREENBERG, EDWARD, NEW YORK Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:MYERS, KENNETH J.;GREENBERG, EDWARD;REEL/FRAME:014078/0010 Effective date: 20030514 Owner name: PERRY, MICHAEL, NEW YORK Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:MYERS, KENNETH J.;GREENBERG, EDWARD;REEL/FRAME:014078/0010 Effective date: 20030514 |
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Year of fee payment: 4 |
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STCH | Information on status: patent discontinuation |
Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362 |
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Effective date: 20090508 |